The Power of God

Trip #6 to Haiti, expecting the unexpected, as no 2 trips are alike. However, God has surprised me in some amazing ways. Let me share a few.

We stayed over in Port au Prince Sunday night, which was a concern for me, as memories of the first overnight stay in Port au Prince came to mind, the single worst night of my life. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the peaceful, sweet spirit in the place we stayed. I was amazed by what we saw and heard at the New Life Childrens Home, a mission started and run by an American woman 35 years ago. They have orphans there, including special needs orphans. It was a moving experience to worship with them. I saw kids hopping up and down worshipping on one leg. I saw a member of our team holding hands with several kids in wheelchairs as they sang together. I saw some of our teens helping special needs kids play on the slide. We heard an amazing testimony from a 22 year old young man, a strong young Christian leader there, who came there first as a 6 year old orphan.

But the most amazing part, was when our hostess told us a few stories of the founder, who had started this mission 35 years ago. She has endured much resistance along the way, including being run off at gunpoint and being put out to sea, set adrift in a small boat, later rescued by the coast guard. It was such a moving testimony to the power of God at work, making a huge impact on those people as He works through His people who love Him and obey His call.

Another experience of the trip was familiar to me, and one I really enjoy every time, the welcome we receive from the kids. This time I saw it in a fresh new light, the light of God's power at work. We didn't come up the hill on the bus, but that didn't diminish their enthusiasm. As we bounced up the hill in an suv and a pickup, they ran alongside and cheered, greeting us and shouting names as they recognized us. We shouted names back and gave out high fives. As the vehicles stopped they tore open the doors and dragged people out, claiming them and welcoming them with love.

I love this part of the trip, it never gets old. I think it's my favorite part of each trip. Yet as I reveled in the warmth of hugs and high fives and heard shouts of 'Mak' by many, I realized that only God's love has the power to do this. Only God can save people with no hope and give them hope and love. It's not just ordinary love, but abundant unconditional love, a love they are eager to share with us. A pure love from God that makes us feel so loved by them and by the Father of us all. It makes no sense that these poor, once hopeless orphans are now such a powerful picture of God's relentless and unconditional love for us, yet that in itself is the testimony of God's power.

Without a doubt, I heard the strongest example of God's power at dinner Monday night. I was at another table, but Pastor Dony and Pastor Nicholas, the leader of the School of Joy at the University were sharing with some of our team as they ate. I tried to eavesdrop as best I could, but I couldn't hear much. However, when I heard the word 'zombie' used a couple of times I had to get up and come listen directly. They were explaining that zombies were created by witch doctors, and controlled by them. They are real, a person either once dead or nearly dead, now controlled by an evil spirit.  They aren't like the flesh eating dramatizations in American movies and TV, in fact, they won't ever speak to a person. The witch doctors rent them out to people as servants, drivers, laborers, security guards, etc.

Pastor Dony told several stories of real life encounters with zombies. It made my hair stand up to hear that such things actually existed. He told a few other stories of voodoo and witchcraft, how witch doctors control people through spells and spirits. Then he told 2 examples of God's power over the darkness. One man that works as a pastor for them used to be a zombie, but God saved him and brought him out of it. It reminded me of Christ's power casting out demons as he encountered them.  Only God's power can overcome that kind of darkness and evil. 

In another case, a witch doctor came to Christ because he realized God was the greatest power. He was trying to hurt a poor woman someone had asked him to put a spell on.  He cast a spell on her, but it didn't work. So he tried to put a spell on her 2 year old son, thinking 'that will really hurt her'. That was even more unsuccessful, as he sensed the protection was even stronger around the son. He finally came to the woman, asking her what witch dovtor she used, since that witch doctor must be more powerful that him.  The lady responded "I don't have any witch doctor, I'm a Christian". She shared the Gospel with him and he got saved. Now that's power!

God's power is alive and visible in this place, but it's available everywhere for His glory, if we'll just believe and act in faith and in His power. Ephesians 3:20-21 declares it: "Now to Him who is able to do immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Do you have His power?

Joy's Haiti Blog Entry

(Joy wrote the following team blog entry for the first day of our recent trip back to Haiti.  So good I had to share it)

 

Day 1 Update: July Team #1

Blog Post By: Joy Morris

   We are driving up the bumpy hill, and I am trying to watch Kayla and Mike D since they are new– I want to see their response and expressions on their faces.  But as we pull up to the top of the hill, I am overwhelmed and overjoyed by faces I know, faces that see me, that light up because they know me.

 The bus moves further up, and to the left I see Sofia-she acts shy, standoffish, but for that second our eyes meet, and I see her light up, smile, and mouth Joy Joy. The bus stops, and kids are surrounding it. Ritchie has been running by the bus yelling Joy Joy. He gets on the bus, goes straight to me, and we just stand there and hug. Then I see Peter get on the bus, say my name and hug me. I point to Beth because she was with him on another trip, and I proceed out of the bus to find other kids. I see Esther, we embrace; I hold her face in my hands and tell her that I love her. Where is Kettely, that rough, tough girl who I wore down last year?  We find each other, and I just cry. I don’t think I have ever held children tighter or longer than I did tonight. I held their faces and said “I love you” over and over. I heard JoyJoy called from every direction. They remembered me and knew my silly name, and I remembered them. Even kids I hadn’t met before yelled Joy Joy -they knew me because of Mike’s previous trips. What a precious reunion it was.
I think that’s how heaven will be-a glorious reunion-people running up to you, saying your name, so happy you are finally there. Even people you don’t know, coming up to say your name. Seeing Jesus’ face, having Him welcome me, showing me all the sweet dark faces that are there because people cared and came down here to love on orphans and share Jesus with them.
     The saddest part of the reunion was when the kids asked me where Ryan was.  We kept telling them Ryan was not here. They said, “Ryan come in July” adamantly, like “yes, he must return and be with us.” What will it be like in heaven if people ask where our loved one is–is he coming? and we do not know or worse yet we know they aren’t coming. It was heartbreaking for me today. It put a sense of urgency in my heart to know that those I love will be there, too. The glorious reunion and the love to be shared should not be missed.

It made me think of the words to a favorite song of one by Cindy Morgan:
“I do not want to walk through heaven’s gates and not see your face
And I do not want to dance beside the streams without you with me
Or see the angels fill the sky, the heavens singing all creation cries:
‘Hosanna, Savior, God our Father, Creator, Redeemer and King’
You’ve got to be there with me
Oh please, you’ve got to be there with me.
Will you be there with me?

Amazing Grace!

Lumiere du Christ took the stage, the orphan singers known from the Bondye Bel video.  They stood in an unbalanced semi-circle on stage, dressed in some of their best clothes.  The girls wore skirts and the boys all wore long pants.  Merline had on a bright orange top, Schinaydrie a pretty green one.  Kenkenn wore a clean white t-shirt.  Saint Foy was in a shirt with a collar, untucked with style.  They looked a bit uncomfortable on stage, keeping their eyes focused on each other or the walls of the back of the church.  There was no fanfare or introduction.  They had no background music either, but they began their first song with precision and when they opened their mouths I got chills.   “Lord I Surrender” rang out clear and crisp--the nearly 100 children in the David Nicholas Chapel sat motionless, listening to every word.  Time seemed to slow as I took it all in.  Such beautiful voices praising God on pitch, in unison.  So many children transfixed on the kids on stage, taking it all in without moving or making a sound.  I looked around at our team--some had beaming smiles, others had their eyes closed and hands raised in worship, and there were even some tears of joy.  We were seeing a glimpse of the vision of ESMI come to reality—the orphans that were saved were leading worship, serving God and becoming a part of the plan to reach others in Haiti—saved to serve.  It was a special moment.

The orphans sang a few more songs with style.  “Syel La” was as mesmerizing as “Lord I Surrender”.  Kettley took the microphone and led them in another song.  After singing, they took a seat and listened to the Bible Story.  Following the Bible story, they went to the cafeteria building with us to help with crafts and snacks.  They jumped right in passing out supplies and helping kids complete their crafts.  When snack time came, they grabbed the snacks and made sure each kid got one.  It dawned on me how far these kids that had come, many coming from a life on the streets, scrapping for food to survive, now eagerly passing out food to others, making sure each child there got a snack.  They were so happy to be involved serving with us.  As we concluded the program for the day, our team joined hands with the orphan leaders and circled the kids in the room.  Saint Foy took the microphone and led the closing prayer.  It was another goosebump moment.  We were so proud of those kids—not just their singing talent but their serving hearts.  You could see the impact they were having as the local kids watched them sing and serve. 

We took group pictures of them outside and gave hugs and high fives as they got back on the bus to go back to the orphanage.  As we walked back down the hill to the guesthouse, our hearts were full of wonder and amazement at God’s grace and marvelous plan—not only saving these children Haiti didn’t want, but including them and using their beautiful voices and brilliant smile to be a part of His plan to save Haiti.  We felt privileged to witness it.  And as I reflect on that thought, I realize that I’m in the same boat as these orphans.  Apart from Christ, I have nothing to offer the world.   He not only chose to save me but to include me in His plan to reach the world and save the lost.  Now that’s Amazing Grace!

My Hatii "Catch up" Entry

Ok, so I've been chastised by at least one of my readers for not blogging while I was in Haiti.  To be honest, I have no good reason except that I was too busy living the experience to stop and reflect on it.  In fact, as I look back I'm still overwhelmed by all that we experienced and struggling to process it.  However, I was given the privilege of leading the last night's group sharing time, and during that time I tried to summarize what we did on that trip.  I thought maybe I could share those comments with you to give you a little taste of my most recent Haiti experience.
Here are the highlights of what our group did:

• We got to watch Gerald Trottman in action, writing a new song with Lumiere du Christ, the singing group comprised of 12 of the older kids there.  We also got to see them practice and hear them record 2 new songs--amazing stuff!
• We spent between 35-40 hours at the orphanage with the kids.  In 4 trips, that is by far the most time I've ever got to spend with the kids--what a blessing!  Thanks to Tyler and Andrea Hirth for pushing us hard to be there so much!
• We painted the cafeteria--some bright colors fitting of such a happy place
• We got to hear Brazil St. Germain preach--Pastor Dony and Pastor Luis' father.  It was not only a treat to hear such a godly man with over 35 year's of ministry experience in Haiti, his message was God-sent and a perfect message for our team as we shared in it's application during group time that evening. 
• We got to attend 3 different worship services in Haiti--and hear a great message by our teammate Troy West on Wednesday night.
• We got to see the beginning of the new church site in Bon Bon--a beautiful site on a hill overlooking the ocean.  After we prayed over the site, we got to meet some of the local children there and invite them back to attend VBS with us in July when some of us return.  They were excited about that.
• We got to hear Pastor Dony share the exciting progress of ESMI. (See Kim Power's blog entry in the "lovealotblog.com" site.)
• We got to hear Dou Dou share with us and challenge us and see the power of what God can do with a rescued orphan
• We got to watch "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" with the kids--I'll never watch that movie the same way again.  (See the video I posted to facebook showing their reactions at key points--goosebumps)
• We showed the kids a slideshow of many of the pictures of them we took during the week--they really loved seeing themselves with us!
• We got to witness (and some even participated) the Lundy downhill sledding--riding dinner bowls or trash cans down the slope at the orphanage.(also on facebook video postings)
• We got to hear Eliciene name her enemies (During a prayer time at Bible School when Robyn Collins was asking the kids to pray for their enemies--Eliciene decided to call hers out "Louna and Feline!" she shouted while standing in her pew, shattering the silence and the moment for the team members as we couldn't stop laughing.) 
• One of our team members learned that the orphans are very caring and helpful, even to the extent of fixing wedgies if you happen to have one.
• Another team member learned the importance of checking to be sure little boys are wearing pants under their over-sized shirts before you let them sit on your lap.
• Another team member learned that the panties she had donated on a previous trip were indeed being used as she saw them hanging on the line to dry one day.  

As I shared all this with the team on the last night, I was reminded that was 'what' we did and experienced.  But if it's one thing Haiti has taught me, life is about the "WHO", not the "WHAT".  

For me the sweetest parts of the trip were spending time with those kids, getting to know them better and love them more.  We also made 2 trips to the Andris family home, the home of Kesnel, Sondi, Winla, Osmela and Jennica--the kids by the guesthouse fence.  We dropped off some food and flashlights and prayed over them.  But my favorite memory of the trip was something I wish I'd done 3 trips ago--on the last day of the trip I gathered my little flock around me and pulled out my Creole New Testament.  I picked out some verses from that morning's journal and had one of my older girls read them aloud for us.  Even the little ones in my group grew quiet and listened.  Then I put my arms around as many of the little circle of 7-8 kids as I could reach and I prayed over them, in my broken, 'cave-man Creole' I prayed that God would bless them and teach them more about Him.  I prayed that they would love others and love Him more every day.  I prayed that God would protect them and provide for them.  And after I prayed, there was a peace and sweetness with them that I've never experienced before.  If I got to experience nothing else but that moment of the trip, it was worth it.  I know now that I will never miss the chance to pray over them again--that is the single greatest thing we can do on the trip--a "what" that focuses on the one and only "WHO".  

My Word for the Year

 At the first of this year, my lovely and creative wife challenged people to think of their “word for the year.”  She posted her challenge to her friends on Facebook to find the word that best describes their intentions and outlook on the upcoming year.  There were many thoughtful and revealing words, words that inspired and challenged me. 

There were words that showed what people had been through, where they are now, and where they want to go.  People expressed hearts of gratitude when they shared words like appreciate, blessed, thankful, and healed.  People shared determination and purpose with words like courage, positive, intentional, perseverance, and focus.  People shared combinations of words for 2011 leading into words for 2012, like broken/restoration, broken/wholeness and failure/hope.  There were even a few funny suggestions such as “owls” for the latest decorating trend at our house and “stumped” by a friend who couldn’t think of a word. 

One of my favorite words was shared by Valerie Burns, a friend of ours who battled cancer in 2010 and received good reports in 2011.  I remembered hearing of her cancer and praying for her, seeing her posts of the ups and down and praising God for the good reports.  Her word for 2012 is “prayerful,” intending to spend more time praying for others.  It encouraged me to know that coming out of the battles she’s been through that her focus is to remember others more in prayer.  I was blessed by her unselfish attitude.  I was also encouraged to know this, because her daughter Kayla will be going to Haiti with us in July, and it will be great to have a prayer warrior like Valerie praying for Kayla and our team while we are there.  (Her husband, Don, a Christian radio host also shared the “word of the year” idea on his radio program.)

After reading all these words and being blessed, challenged, and inspired, I started thinking about my own word for 2012.  I reviewed my past and thought of where I was and what previous year’s words would have been.  In 2009, I lost 3 sisters in a nine month period.  The only word I could think of to describe the pain and circumstance for 2009 would have been “loss”.  In 2010, I was still reeling from the pain of 2009, and I missed experiencing much of anything.  I would have to say the word that sums up 2010 for me was “withdrawn.”  But in 2011, God used one act of obedience from the fall of 2010 to bring purpose and clarity and motivation to me.  After a challenging sermon by our pastor in November of 2010, we decided to go to Haiti as a family in the summer of 2011.  We spent much of the first half of 2011 saving money, planning, and preparing to go on our first mission trip as a family.  After we went, we were changed forever.  Our hearts were broken for the suffering of the poor.  We were compelled to give unselfishly to the kids.  We viewed our own wants and needs much differently once we came home.  Three of us went back in October 2011, to love on the kids more and give more of ourselves.  In December of 2011, they needed more people to fill out the team to deliver Christmas to the kids.  I was able to get permission from my employer(Coca Cola) to go.  In fact, I not only got permission to go, but the stewardship committee at Coca Cola voted to send me with gifts from Coca Cola for the kids and others there.  2011 was definitely the year of “go” for me. 

As I contemplated 2012, I searched for a word that would sum up my plans and hopes for the year.  Haiti and returning there to serve filled my mind, but it was more than just thoughts of “go” or “return,”  it has become bigger than that to me.  I’ve found that sharing what I’ve experienced in Haiti has blessed and encouraged others.  Much of what I’ve experienced in Haiti has been experienced by others who have also gone.  We share so many similar feelings and reactions to what happens while we are there among the people and in our hearts.  I’ve also found that so many people, so many good Christ-loving people still haven’t heard and experienced it.  Our church has been supporting the orphanage and ESMI in Haiti for over two years, yet only a small percentage of our vast membership has ever gone.  Many have heard but still don’t understand the magnitude of the work that God is doing there.  I find myself obsessed to tell people of all that God is doing there.  A simple question about Haiti can spark a 30 minute conversation.  I feel called to share, called to recruit, and called to go. 

As I tried to capture all these ideas into a single word, I remembered a word I heard almost every day in Haiti.  I heard it from the orphans every afternoon.  We would usually arrive at the orphanage after lunchtime and stay for the rest of the afternoon, leaving around 5 or so to go to dinner in town.  As our day at the orphanage wrapped up, we were usually scattered throughout the orphan village, talking with our kids, playing, sightseeing, etc.  When it was time to fire up the bus and head down the hill, usually someone from our team would shout “Long Hollow, let’s go!”  The kids know that phrase (they hear it nearly every trip) and they begin echoing it in their creole accents, “Long Hollow, lessgo!”  They didn’t want us to miss the bus, to be left behind.  Out of concern for us they would spread out in all directions calling out “Long Hollow, lessgo!”.  It dawned on me that word, connected with my heart for this year, “lessgo!”  I don’t want anyone to miss out on what God has for them.  God opened my eyes to see life from a new and wonderful perspective while I was in Haiti.  God showed me things in His word in a new and fresh way while I was in Haiti and since I’ve returned.  Each time I go, I feel like I’m drinking from a fire hydrant, barely able to process all that He is showing and teaching me—but loving every second of it.  Before my first trip, I was promised that if I went, I’d never worship the same again, never read the Bible the same again, never pray the same again, and never look at material things the same again.  All 4 of those promises came true ten times over.  Who wouldn’t want to experience that?  I can’t help but be excited to share it with others, to want others to share that experience with me.  Those of us that have gone share a connection with each other and with God through Haiti.  It’s hard to explain, but I promise to keep trying, and recruiting others to share in it.  After all, it’s my word for the year, LESSGO!

A lesson from 45 years...

     Ok, I celebrated another birthday last week.  Birthdays and the beginning of the year are both good times to reflect on life.  Fortunately for me, my birthday comes very early in the year so I get a double dose of reflection early every year.  This year God showed me a little different perspective...maybe I'm getting old?
     As I struggled to put life in perspective over 45 years, my first instinct was to thank God for accomplishments and things I've been able to experience and do, but before I got too far with that list, I was halted by a thought.  Any such list I could put together, although it may impress a few, would feel like a brag list, which isn't me.  (Not to mention, I'm sure many could top it.)   Another thought entered my mind, "Are the accomplishments and activities what I'm really thankful for?"  Promotions, trips to amazing places, awards, financial blessings?  Even experiencing the accomplishments of my kids still doesn't quite explain the feeling of thankfulness and gratitude to God in my heart.  It dawned on me that what I'm most thankful for was the multitude of birthday wishes that came to me via Facebook, email, text messages and phone calls.  Not the  number of those messages.  Not even the details of the comments (although some really nice and funny things were said).  I was really overwhelmingly thankful for the RELATIONSHIPS behind each "Happy Birthday" wish. I looked back through my Facebook postings for starters.  I saw friends from the street I grew up on as a kid, friends from high school, friends from the church where I grew up, friends from college--everyone has friends from those kind of places in life.  I thankful God put those people in those places of my life to help me "grow up".  I saw friends from Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, and now Tennessee.  I thought about the moves that God took us through, like when we wanted to move to Chicago, and instead God moved us to Michigan where we didn't know anybody.  Then we wanted to move from Michigan to Indianapolis where my sister lived, but instead God moved us to Louisville, KY (where we didn't know anybody).  And then we didn't want to leave Louisville and God moved us to Nashville anyway (where we didn't know anybody).  I think of the friends God connected us with in each of those places and how special they were to us there, some for that season, some for a lifetime.  
     I looked back and saw neighbors, co-workers, and fellow church members, past and present.  I saw people who have loaned us a stick of butter and an egg, people who helped move a couch, and people who had coffee with me and helped me grieve the loss of loved ones.  I saw people who made going to work more enjoyable.  I saw people I've served with in connect groups, in Treehouse, and at many other church activities throughout the years. I even got a belated birthday wish from our 'vacation buddies', special friends that God brought from Ohio to the same beach in South Carolina where we were, almost 4 years ago.  Only God could plan such a 'coincidental' encounter to bring such amazing friends in our lives. 
     As I felt the waves of thankfulness for all the people that God had introduced into my life over my first 45 years, I realized that they were part of His way of loving me and teaching me about Him.  Some of them were only acquaintances or friends for a short period of life, others have been close for many years, but each one had a part to play.  There were many roles people played--a smile from God, a hug, an insight, a word of encouragement, a challenge, someone to help me learn, someone to help me teach, someone to share God's Word, and so many other roles.  I realized that I wouldn't have experienced meeting those people if it wasn't for the tasks God gave me to do and the places He led (sometimes forced) me to.  It occurred to me, that up until recently, my focus in life had been more on the tasks I had to do and the places I had to go.  What I realized looking back is that those tasks and places were just God's TOOLS to introduce me to PEOPLE that He wanted to meet.  I was reminded of another saying I've heard many times before, "The only thing in this world that is eternal is the people".  
     So as I thank God for 45 blessed years and all the ways He's loved me and taught me about Him through people, I look ahead to whatever else He has in store for me, more importantly, WHO He has in store for me.  I resolve to focus less on the tasks I do and places I go and more on the people God puts in my path for each of those tasks and places.  It took almost 45 years for me to learn that lesson, but I'm glad to share it.  

    

Spiritual Warfare or A Dog on a Leash?

I love the book of Job.  It offers great comfort for those who are suffering, but that’s not why I love it.  It has a wonderful happy ending, symbolic of Heaven where we will all live “happily ever after”, but that’s not why I love it.  It exposes the wisdom of the world for the foolishness it is, but that’s not why I love Job.  I love Job for the simple, profound truths encountered in the first 2 chapters that show us the position and power of God over Satan.  So many people are quick to claim “spiritual warfare” when things don’t go as they planned.  My car broke down on the way to do something for God—“spiritual warfare”.  My family got sick at a very inconvenient time—“spiritual warfare”.  There is dissention in the ranks of the church—“spiritual warfare”.  In 2009 when my three of my sisters died over a 9 month period, someone said to me “Boy, Satan is sure having a field day with your family”.  Had I not know these truths from Job 1 and 2 and believed in them firmly, I might have been inclined to focus on Satan, to claim “spiritual warfare” and go into a tailspin feeling like a pawn in a spiritual battle between God and Satan.  But I know these truths.  They carried me through the pain of 2009 and through many other trials of life.   Look at them with me.

First of all, I don’t mean to minimize the danger and threat that Satan presents.  Satan is a very real and dangerous force.  In Job 1 and Job 2, when God asks Satan where he has been, note his response. 

Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Job 1:7b (also identical to Job 2:2b).

Satan wasn’t just roaming as in wandering aimlessly picking daisies and catching butterflies.  He is a defeated enemy and he is always looking for ways to drag others down with him.  We are warned about Satan in 1 Peter 5:8.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Yes, Satan is a real and dangerous enemy, but we should take note of a couple of things.  Satan was questioned by God and had to answer.  Satan is clearly shown submitting to God’s authority because he must, he has no choice.  God questions him, but not because He needs to know the answer.  God never asks a question because He doesn’t know—He is God, the omniscient one.  He knows all.  When He asks a question, it is usually for the benefit of the audience or to test the one being asked.  In this case, it’s for our benefit.  Where was Satan?  God wants us to know—that, he is on the earth and a danger to us.  But God also wants us to know that Satan roams the earth because he has been cast out of Heaven, he has no place else to go.  We are reminded of Satan’s defeated status by that question, twice in these 2 chapters. 

The second and most important thing to notice is that Satan has to get God’s permission to do anything to Job.  In Job 1, God gives permission for Satan to strike everything that Job has, but he draws the line at Job himself.  In Job 2, God gives Satan permission to attack Job’s health, but again draws the line saying he must spare his life. These simple transactions between God and Satan show that Satan has no ability to do anything unless God allows it, and only to the limits God sets.  Satan has never outsmarted God.  He has never overpowered God.  He is a finite being, capable of being in only one place at a time while God is infinite and everywhere at once.  Therefore, Satan can’t even ‘win’ a battle by striking where God isn’t watching.  Jesus reminds us in John 10:28-30 of God’s power to protect and sustain us. 

²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

Why are these truths so important to me?  What difference does it make when you’re suffering and hurting where the trouble came from, whether from a malicious enemy or allowed by a loving Heavenly Father?  It makes all the difference in the world.  If Satan has in fact won a battle and struck a blow, then we are no more than pawns in a spiritual battle.  But that’s not what Job indicates.  God is in charge and Satan is restricted to do only what God allows.  When you see Satan for who he is, no more than a dog on a leash, and you see God for who He is, the loving Heavenly Father who holds the leash, then you must approach your pain and suffering differently.  You must come back to Romans 8:28, that there is some good intended in this situation. 

 ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It doesn’t mean it will hurt less, or that once you figure out the ‘good’ that your situation will instantly be resolved.  It just means that God is still in control and that He has a plan for you, a plan for good in this and every situation.  Consider this:  Job himself was a prime example of good coming from pain and suffering.  Job’s situation was to show that God can be glorified in our pain if we continue to praise Him as Job did.  How many have been encouraged by Job’s faith?  That is good!  Job’s praise of God also frustrated Satan and added another defeat to his record, and that is good! 

So when I suffer, when things don’t go as I planned or hoped, when it feels like ‘spiritual warfare’ is going on, I come back to these truths from Job.  Satan is a defeated, enemy, a dog on a leash, and God holds the leash.  My eyes should always remain focused not on the snarling dog, but on the One who holds the leash.  The One who loved me enough to send His only Son to die for me.  I will trust Him.